Climbing Glossary

Climbing jargon has the tendency to isolate those in the know from those out of the scene. A major component of our site is built around rock climbing, and while rock climbing plays a role in many of our discussions, our primary aim centers around inclusiveness, community, and the role that nature plays in our lives. The notion of inclusiveness and climbing specific jargon tend to be at odds. This post is an attempt to remedy that apparent disconnect.

So, if you aren’t up to date on your contemporary climbing argot, I have taken the pains to construct a song to keep you in the loop!

My motivation for this song comes from one of the most underrated poetic lyricists of all time1. Big L.

Ebonics by Big L is truly a brilliant poetic classic that basically serves as a Google Translate from Standard English to what Big L calls “Criminal Slang”. Aside from serving as a suburban thesaurus it also has a sick flow, dope beat, and tight rhymes. You can check it out here if you aren’t familiar with it!

I am not a poetic lyricist by any stretch of the imagination, so essentially I’m plagiarizing commandeering the genius of Big L to help create a fun translator from Climbing Slang to Standard English. (If you want read to the beat, click here.)

Climbing Slang

Yo, pay attentionAnd listen real closely how we break this slang shit down

Check it, a monkey fist is a ballA giant whip is a fallYou clip ropes to a drawAnd Crampons is your claws

Drop foot is a flag, rope friction is dragRocks is crags, homeless is dirt-bags

The beta’s your map, torn skin is a flapIf you rappel then you rap, up and down is a lap

Gun powder is chalk, Starring hard is a gawkThe approach is a walk, and memes is rawk tawk

If you retreat then you bailIf you dirt then you failExtra rope is a tail

The gear you place is cams, wedging is jamsDraw descend is a tram, your climbing crew is your fam

When you uncoil rope you flakeA safe knot is an eight; a sliding fall is a cheese grate

I know you like the way we freakin’ itwe talk with slang and we’ll never stop speakin’ it

Speak with climbing slang

That’s just the way that we talk, yoVocabulary spills, we ill (2x’s)

Yo, yo

If you scared then you take, it’s also a breakAnd if you Elvis, then you got leg shake

You put both hands on a hold…it’s a matchAn outside corner’s AreteAnd if you stop a fall it’s a catch

A clean 1stattempt is a flashA sloppy route is just called trash

The best hold is a jug, the hardest part is the cruxAnd if you off-width…the way you move is to udge

Lactic Acid is pumped, Switch holds is a bumpDyno’s a jump, to come down is to dump

A length of rope is a pitchSliding foot is a smearA friction knot is a hitchAnd a rack is your gear

Traditional’s tradFinger tips is your padsLow angled rock is a slab, and off route is a dab

I know you like the way we freakin’ itwe talk with slang and we’ll never stop speakin’ it

Speak with climbing slang

That’s just the way that we talk, yoVocabulary spills, we ill…(2x’s)

Protection is Pro, concentration is flowTo climb without gear is to free solo

If your toe out, then your shoe blow’d outA sport climb is a bolt routeAnd if a rock falls you give a rock shout

If you on a small ledge, then your shoes gotta edgeAnd if you workin a crack then your pro is a wedge

Redundant is ya back-up, Grabbin gear is to rack-up,Pullng rope is to slack-up, and funny off-width is a crack-up.

Solid pro is passive, a highball is massivePro with parts is active, belay a hang-dog means you captive

The OG Cam is the Friend, a clean climb is a sendA rope loop is a bend, if straight-armed then you stemmed

Sliding down snow’s a glissadeThe difficulty’s the gradetheDIHEDRAL is a diedre, uh!

I know you like the way we freakin’ itwe talk with slang and we’ll never stop speakin’ it

Speak with climbing slang

That’s just the way that we talk, yoVocabulary spills, we ill…(2x’s)

THERE YOU GO, all your climbing questions answered in the form of a song!!! The next time you’re wondering just what the heck some climbing slang means, just consult this little piece of inspiration from one of the greats.

Thanks for bobbin along.

Big L Rest In Peace! (May 30, 1974 – February 15, 1999)

Carrot (Co-writer)

I know I have a tendency to hyperbolize every now and then, but when I say that Big L is one of the best rap lyricists ever I’m not exaggerating (I swear). His work remains by and large underground, which lends itself to his underrated status. However, Hip Hop Scholars and colleagues are well aware of the brilliance of Big L. He has been rated as one of the top 25 MC’s of all time. Number 1 on that list is Nas who had this to say about Big L “He scared me to death. When I heard that on tape I was scared to death. I said, ’Yo, it’s no way I can compete if this is what I gotta compete with.’” Big L remains a shrouded icon; maybe this post sheds a glimmer of light in his direction.

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Published by thedihedral

A team of writers, artists, scholars, and professionals, who share an endearing devotion to “the outdoors." Friends who share a warmth and predilection for mother nature and the possibilities she presents to us all. Our mutual interests in rock climbing, hiking, writing, and exploring brought us to theDIHEDRAL, and we hope you find our eccentric little “corner” of the community just as inviting as we do.
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When it comes to playlists, I just let Spotify do the heavy lifting. But since we are on the topic of hip hop, I can recommend the ‘acid jazz’ playlist on Spotify. Not purely old school rap classics, but still an epic playlist. check it out!

Reblogged this on Northeast Alpine Start and commented:
Climbing friends (and rap aficionados) you got to check this out from my friends over at The Dihedral <- happens to be an awesome climbing blog you should probably be following.